Sunday will be the 40th anniversary of the 1973 League Cup final, played on March 3, when the Canaries faced north London club Tottenham Hotspur.

It was the second time City had reached the League Cup final. Norwich had triumphed in the second ever League Cup final in 1962, beating Rochdale 4-0 over two legs, played at the two clubs’ home stadiums.

But in 1973, with Ron Saunders’ City then a First Division side, a second League Cup final appearance meant a first trip to Wembley for the club and its supporters.

A 72nd-minute goal from Ralph Coates saw Spurs edge to victory, with England World Cup winner Martin Peters playing against City around two years before he went on to a hugely successful time at Carrow Road.

Duncan Forbes went close to equalising with this late header.

Duncan Forbes skippered the City side in the 1-0 defeat, which was watched by an estimated 100,000 people at the old Wembley Stadium.

- Did you attend the match? Do you have photos or memorabilia from the day? Share your memories with reporter David Freezer by calling 01603 772418 or sending an email to david.freezer@archant.co.uk

12 comments

Looks like you were retro-ethered too, Bruce87. No hope of a "thankyou" from the offending journo then? Can you not melt a little, Mr. Freezer?

The most deadful day for a hopeful 17 year old going up the the smoke - gassy Double Diamond in a smoky pub before the match, nearly (deliberately) run over by Spurs fans in a Ford Cortina on a zebra crossing outside Wembley, Norwich playing like donkeys, with Duncan Forbes our most skillful player and the team making it into the Spurs half all of 3 times in the match, a smelly acrylilic Norwich cup final scarf, and the long slow journey home after humiliation by a team that were so much better, but didn't need to try! Never mind - much, much better days were to follow.

I remember going by bus from Barnham Broom with my then girlfriend Paula. She used to come with me to lots of matches then. We got married the following year and she stopped going from then. We are still married 40 years later I still go to matches she still doesn't , now that's what I call love

Had a little bit too much to drink the night before; couldn't find my ticket the next morning as a friend (Man Utd. supporter) hid my ticket as a joke but phoned up just in time for me to find it and catch train up from Eastbourne. Dull game; terrible result, but glad to have been there. Still have the programme with Ron Saunders leading the team out -- as he did with Villa 2 years later. (Saw that one too.)

Drove down from Edinburgh to Norwich overnight to meet up with my brother & some pals prior to minibus trip to Wembley. Not a good performance from Ron Saunders` boys. Far too much beer after the game; broke the Essex Speed-Vomiting record out of the side door of the minibus, along the A12 somewhere! Still have the ticket stub ; Turnstile C, Entrance 13, East Standing Enclosure. Price: 60 pence. The chants of "Carrot Crunchers" and worse from the Spurs fans still ring in my ears. Happy days...... As Bruce87 says, it was just plain old "Football League Cup" in those days.